Pruning Tiger Lilies and Hydrangea?

[John]

Please excuse a newbie question - I was told by a neighbor that I should prune back my hydrangea and tiger liles to about 6" off the ground in late October up here in Mass. Is this true, and should I also mix in some some fertilizer now to help next year's blooms? Thanks!

--- John

[brianflay]

[Frogleg]

This site has some info on hydrangea pruning:

zone 7b-8, I simply clip off totally spent blooms in late fall and totally dead wood or missed blooms in late spring. Be careful, however. Dead *looking* stems often produce new leaves and flowers.

Tiger lilies (Lilium lancifolium) do not requre pruning. The foliage dies down after blooming and the bloom/leaf stalk may be removed after it has browned and dried. It's done. Next year's blooms come directly from the bulb.

[animaux]

[Beecrofter]

The neighbor probably means well, Take and remove the tiger lilly foliage right to the ground. Leave the hydrangeas alone. ( you could remove real spindly stems clean to the ground) Fertilize in the spring.